Senators Welch and Klobuchar Lead Opposition to USDA Rural Development Reorganization
U.S. Senators Peter Welch and Amy Klobuchar, along with 20 other Senate colleagues, have expressed strong opposition to the proposed reorganization of the Rural Development (RD) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In a letter to Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, the senators highlighted concerns that the reorganization, proposed by the Trump Administration, could lead to a significant reduction in services for rural communities, small businesses, and families. The senators emphasized that the RD division is crucial for supporting agriculture and rural prosperity through grants, loans, and infrastructure projects. They noted that the division has already experienced a 36% reduction in staff, with further cuts anticipated under the reorganization plan, which would require 60% of staff in the National Capital Region to relocate to St. Louis or Dallas.